collecting

Yankeehero74

Just wanted to find out what keeps some of you passionate about collecting. The reason why I ask is because in my situation I dont have really anyone to share this hobby with seeing how none of my friends collect. Interested in finding out from you guys what keeps you going in this hobby

Doublestriker

For me it is alot of the guys on here. Take time and get to know some of the people on the board. You can find lifelong collecting friends

emar

The Chase...the pursuit of the "perfect" card to fill a void. The anticipation...waiting on an auction to close or waiting by the mailbox. I pay more attention to my want list compared to the cards that I own. Lotsa cool people around the hobby too. Beware of the scammers, they can deflate the passion pretty quickly.

RookieWax

That is the beauty of this message board. It lets us share pickups, grading results, pictures, stories, etc. about collecting with others who have similar interests, even though few of us have anyone close to us who collects.

JoeBanzai

It's a fun hobby. I am trying to get to #1 in the Registry, so that has changed how I collect a little. I have decided to sell my newer cards and just collect the ones that qualify for the Master set.

I was sick of the overproduction of the new stuff anyway. Just too many different cards that are nearly exactly alike.

Joe

Stone193

<< <i>Just wanted to find out what keeps some of you passionate about collecting. The reason why I ask is because in my situation I dont have really anyone to share this hobby with seeing how none of my friends collect. Interested in finding out from you guys what keeps you going in this hobby >>

Good question!

I collect very few cards - so my posts on games, sheet music and other items draw very little real attention.

I - too - have little attention given at home and don't have anyone to share.

It's my "goals" that keep me going.

There's always another game out there I've never seen before - and I'm looking for "one" copy of Take Me Out to the Ball Game that I don't have - the day I get that? Celebration time!

After that? There'll always be something else.

PhilG

I am a hoarder. Currently I am hoarding 93 Finest Refractors. Have over three thousand of them. What I like doing is making shortprints. So far I have made 7 shortprints or as Beckett would say “Perceived Scarce”. I buy commons. For the price of one star I can buy 10 commons. Fits well with my hoarding.
Phil

BostonAmericans

For me, it's re-connecting with something I loved to do as a child. I have gotten in on a few of the group rips and I had forgotten how much I enjoyed opening a pack and finding out what is inside. I still get ticked when I see a checklist card - i always felt I got gypped by those!

It's the goal of fulfilling a lifelong goal. Modified, to be sure, but I had always wanted to collect a set of every year since I was born. Nowadays, I don't have the inclination to collect the Joe Shlabotniks from the 1970s, so I changed my goals. But to be sure, they are changing even now.

I guess it comes down to me forgetting how much fun collecting cards was and still is. This was the first hobby I ever had, and it is one I think I will always have.

As for sharing, I have a nephew who is into collecting, and we have shared new aquisitions and discussed the hobby, but he lives far away for me and him to have regular conversations. So I get my fill of fellow hobbyists here. I may not contribute too much, but I have learned so much from the gang.

MrNearMint

I also don't have anyone around me that collects. In fact, most of the people I know would probably tell me what a waste of money cards are, but I still love the hobby. I'd be lying if I said that I don't collect for "investment purposes," (even though I know it's not reliable, but it's also not the main reason why I collect cards). But since getting back into collecting, I have seen different collections here and there that have inspired me to change my goals or "focus" as everyone here says. I guess what keeps the passion for me is just constantly trying to add great new additions to my collection in hopes that someone someday will look at my collection and be inspired to start their own...maybe my kids.

I should also note that one of the aspects of collecting that I really enjoy is searching and waiting around for a card (mainly on Ebay) and buying it for a cheaper price than what it typically sells for. I love collecting graded cards and getting them for a good price is icing on the cake!

miklia

<< <i>I am a hoarder. Currently I am hoarding 93 Finest Refractors. Have over three thousand of them. What I like doing is making shortprints. So far I have made 7 shortprints or as Beckett would say “Perceived Scarce”. I buy commons. For the price of one star I can buy 10 commons. Fits well with my hoarding.
Phil >>



you own 105 Randy Meyers 93 finest refractors???

mind = blown.

Statman

I agree with EMAR - it's the chase for me. I'm not going after big fish, but it's always seeing PSA 10s come back on submissions or finding some oddball cards at a show that might not be worth much raw, but can bring some interest graded. keeps it fun.

vladguerrero

<< <i>I am a hoarder. Currently I am hoarding 93 Finest Refractors. Have over three thousand of them. What I like doing is making shortprints. So far I have made 7 shortprints or as Beckett would say “Perceived Scarce”. I buy commons. For the price of one star I can buy 10 commons. Fits well with my hoarding.
Phil >>



How do you store those babies, great stuff!

Foo3112

Baseball cards, Nintendo (NES) and Transformers G1 were my true childhood favorites. There was nothing better. I got the Nintendo bug out of my system by collecting about 260 games (all my favorites as a kid and then some) back between 2002-2005 and I love that I own the actual games. My old Transformers, well those are long gone but I did purchase the first few releases frrom the ToysR'Us Reissues and I have those still stored in there sealed boxes so part of that piece of my childhood got fullfilled. Then there were Baseball Cards - My how I loved them as a child. Like most on here. I got suckered into the 90's hype. Couldnt really help it - thats what was out when I was 9-13 years old. Although I still like ripping a wax box of cheap Topps every now and again, Ive defintely gotten into collecting older stuff since being on these boards. I would have just been fine collecting all the 80's cards I could never afford but lets face it, most of that stuff doesnt impress anyone and as someone mentioned, I also collect more for investment purposes. I'm not expecting to get rich but I like getting cards that should continue to rise over time in value that I may be able to pass off or just sell and have a nice little retirement vacation and do things I always wanted to do when I get older.

I like a lot of players but Im fairly picky about who I collect. Things that I think "fit" my collection. I wont just get a random 1960 Don Drysdale PSA 8 - not that theres anything wrong with that card but I like to collect my heroes. I tend to stay pretty focused. Players I like are Maris, Rose, Mays, Aaron, J. Robinson, Clemente, Mantle, T. Williams and more Im sure I cant remember - all the classic guys although I do own 80's cards because its more nostalgic than anything else. I have 1 friend who also collects which we grew up together but hes more into comics than cards now. Fortunately Ive made friends with card dealers so we'll talk sports cards here and there when we might get something worth discussing.

When it comes to collecting graded cards, I can pretty picky and although I like the higher end stuff, I always stick within my budget. For example - cards from the 50's and early 60's - Ill probably have to get them in PSA 7. Mid 60's all the way up through the 70's - PSA 8/9. Depending on the player and the price but defintely no lower than PSA 8. 80's and above - PSA 10 if I really like the card/player. Something like a Ripken Traded in PSA 9 im fine with but a 10 cost a little over $1000 and when I think about getting something like that, I think why not just get a 63 Mantle PSA 8 for that same price. Thats just how I think I guess.

I really do like collecting cards and when I'm not purchasing something, I'm content just looking at others collections. I still think not many of you share your collection as much as I'd like but theres defintely stuff to be learned within this site. Vast amounts on knowledge on here.

TNP777

Chicks. Definitely for the chicks. Grief has widely been misconstrued as nature's most powerful aphrodisiac. However, women are very much attracted to men who collect small pictures of other men.

In all seriousness, if I hadn't formed the solid friendships here and on other hobby-related forums I most likely would not collect.

GR

Im still just a young kid at 20, and Ive been collecting autographs for ten years! Dad would always have to drive me to shows, and hed walk around and learn a thing or two. I got myself into the hobby and its helped me and my dad Bond whenever we go meet athletes and i pick up some new item, and hes getting to the point at shows where he remembers some of the things Im looking for! Its been a great ride and even though I could sell my collection to pay for college I just cant do it, id rather pass it on someday (: Its a beautiful hobby.

robert67

miklia

<< <i>Chicks. Definitely for the chicks. Grief has widely been misconstrued as nature's most powerful aphrodisiac. However, women are very much attracted to men who collect small pictures of other men. >>



Preach it, brother. I don't have enough fingers on my hands to count the number of girls I've bedded just by showing them my Cassius Clay cards.


In an unrelated note, I lost all my fingers in a horrific thresher accident when I was 10.

expertcollector

<< <i>I am a hoarder. Currently I am hoarding 93 Finest Refractors. Have over three thousand of them. What I like doing is making shortprints. So far I have made 7 shortprints or as Beckett would say “Perceived Scarce”. I buy commons. For the price of one star I can buy 10 commons. Fits well with my hoarding.
Phil >>


did you see the 93 refractor set on ebay ? its graded psa 9 and the seller wants $17,500 OBO i was thinking of making an offer on it but what do you think would be a good deal?

PhilG

<<you own 105 Randy Meyers 93 finest refractors???>>

Yes I have 105 Randy Myers. My current goal is to buy 15 more. Would give me 50% of the production run. What I really am after is a Danny Tartabull refractor. I need one more for another shortprint. Beckett defines shortprint or “Perceived Scarce” as 20% of the refractor production run.


<<How do you store those babies, great stuff! >>

The raw cards are kept in toploaders in three super shoe boxes. The graded cards are kept in eight Super Vault Storage Boxes. The high value cards are kept in a bank vault.


<<did you see the 93 refractor set on ebay ? its graded psa 9 and the seller wants $17,500 OBO i was thinking of making an offer on it but what do you think would be a good deal? >>

I been tracking eBay pricing going back to 2004. If I add up the current value of a PSA 9 set it comes to $15,951.54. I can send you an Excel spreadsheet of eBay pricing if you PM me your email address.

RyanAdmirer

Collecting cards is a sickness....an illness......there should be a CA (CardAholics Anonymous). I'd be a part of it, but I'd probably skip a lot of meetings looking for the "perfect" card to add to my collection.

Don't be surprised if you come across someone on here that lives close to you. None of my friends collect either but about a month ago I was involved in a trade on here that resulted in the realization that we lived about 10 minutes apart. (Perdy Cool)

elsnorto

For me, it is a fun way to indulge my O.C.D... I love the satisfaction of polishing off a set and carefully putting it in sheets to be admired many times over.

Moreso, it is just a natural extension of my love for professional football... the history and evolution of the game, the men who changed the game, and even how the hobby itself has changed right along with it.

As far as hobbies go, yeah, it can get expensive... but with the vintage stuff at least, it seems to hold its value pretty well... so while it can be an expensive hobby, depending on what you collect, you should be able to get most your money back should you ever want to sell.

Like many others who posted, I don't have anyone in my life who shares my passion for collecting, but I am ok with that.

Snorto~

TheCARDKid

For me as a kid, it was a crazy world.

-I started collecting in about 1987. It lasted through 1992 or 93. It combined sports, a natural business sense, money, a sense of accumulating, accomplishment, travel/fun, going to shows. There was a lot to the hobby to make it all consuming.

There were different "worlds" quote un quote to get into as a kid. It made it very exciting, and almost never ending. You could collect vintage (pre 1975). Modern. Football. Basketball. Hockey.

I think what made collecting more fun for kids then....the stars were actual heros. Everyone I had as a kid...Ripken rookie, Yzerman, Griffey Jr, Paul Molitor, you wanted to be like those guys.

I think whats kept me in the hobby is how mythical some cards were. Like the 84 Donruss Mattingly, 88 OPC Brett Hull? That card for a 12 year old kid was like owning gold.

Also, some of the back stories of the hobby are interesting....the finds, different dealers. For guys/men, you can sort of rationalize cards as an investment. Theres an analytical side that draws guys in. Very tough to quite that once you're bitten by the "bug".

mattinglymint23

echo a lot of the comments already. i'm 38 and started seriously collecting when i was 11 so the 86 topps (BB and FB) set was my first real time set... that's when i started collecting '75 tops bb too... i've come in and out of the hobby over the years, but the other day i found my 1975 tops want list (in excel) printed out for a show i went to in '99 so at least i'm consistent.

i have some favorite players, i like the hoarding, i like the transactions, i like investing in a quality item.
i also rationalize some of it as investment, for me and for my son, but he's still a baby so we are hoping he takes to it, at least a little.
i go back and forth between vintage and some select modern sets... my two favorite aspects of the hobby are coming across a great card and having it grade well (vintage) - and ripping a pack! nothing beats ripping a rack, wax, cello, jumbo and slipping that big card to the top of the pile...

welcome and enjoy the board... some great people on here (although some have gone quiet over last couple of months ) - i have learned a huge amount in my almost year as a member - and look forward to more.